# A football is kicked horizontally along a flat grass pitch. The ball slows down and eventually stops. Explain why the ball decelerates after it has been kicked, using Newton's laws of motion.

> Eduqas GCSE Physics — 4.2 Forces, accelerations and Newton's laws of motion · Explain · 4 marks

## Mark scheme (4 marks)

1. A friction force acts on the ball (from the grass) opposing its motion
2. The forces on the ball are unbalanced / there is a resultant force acting on the ball
3. Newton's second law: a resultant force causes acceleration (or deceleration)
4. The ball decelerates because the resultant (friction) force acts in the opposite direction to the ball's motion

## Related

- [Revision notes for Eduqas GCSE Physics](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/learn)
- [How to answer "Explain" questions](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/tools/command-word-cheatsheet)
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